During the Clallam County Fair, the Clothing and Textile Advisors announced the winners of the 2014 “Why I Want My Own Sewing Machine” essay contest.

Zoie Harris, 10, of Port Angeles, was selected as the first-place winner of a Singer Touch & Sew II. Zoie has been hand-sewing for a year and attended sewing camp in July. She wrote that she is excited to finally learn how to use a machine. Because of a medical condition, Zoie has to wear a back brace and sewing is something she can do in the brace. She said she wants to create clothes that will work with her brace and to make matching clothes for her American Girl doll.

Sterling Rowland, 7, of Sequim, was runner-up in the essay contest. Sterling has been sewing for a year in the 4-H sewing project and also attended sewing camp. Sterling said he is very excited to have his own machine, a Brother, and plans to use the machine to sew pillows, a quilt, and in his own words, “and anything else I like.”

Williams has been working with the 4-H Sewing Project for the past year and was the director of the Sewing Camp held in July.